Phosphorous-free, and iron activating agent-free rust removal, inhibition, and passivation

Abstract

An additive comprising glucaric acid and/or glucaric acid salt may be added to an aqueous system in an effective amount to remove rust from a corroded metallurgy and inhibit further rust formation and/or corrosion of the metallurgy within the aqueous system, and also to passivate any metallurgy within an aqueous system, wherein the additive may not contain a phosphorous compound or an iron activating agent. The aqueous system may be an aqueous stream, a hydrocarbon stream containing water, a cooling tower, a boiler, a cooling water system, and combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for removing rust from and inhibiting further rust formation and/or corrosion upon metallurgy in an aqueous system comprising: introducing an additive comprising glucaric acid and/or a glucaric acid salt to
 an aqueous system in contact with metallurgy, the amount of the   additive being effective to remove rust from and inhibit rust formation   and/or corrosion of the metallurgy within the aqueous system;   simultaneously removing rust from the metallurgy and inhibiting further rust formation and/or corrosion of the metallurgy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in the absence of adding a phosphorous compound. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in the absence of adding an iron-activating agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additive further comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, tartaric acid, mucic acid, hydroxymalonic acid, gluconic acid, ketogluconic acid, citric acid, salts of any of these acids, diastereomers of any of these acids, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the additive ranges from about 0.01 wt. % to 50 wt. % based on a total amount of fluid in the aqueous system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous system is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous stream, a hydrocarbon stream containing water, a cooling tower, a cooling water system, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous system further comprises at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of a scale dissolver, a biocide, a chlorine-containing component, a surfactant, a corrosion inhibitor, a dispersant, a passivator, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the aqueous system further comprises at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of a scale dissolver, a biocide, a chlorine-containing component, a surfactant, a corrosion inhibitor, a dispersant, a passivator, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous system has a pH from about 1.5 to about 3. 
     
     
         11 . A treated aqueous system comprising:
 an aqueous system in contact with metallurgy; and   an additive comprising glucaric acid and/or glucaric acid salt, the amount of the additive being effective to remove rust from the metallurgy and inhibit further rust formation and/or corrosion of the metallurgy contacting the aqueous system.   
     
     
         12 . The treated aqueous system of  claim 11  in the absence of an added phosphorous compound. 
     
     
         13 . The treated aqueous system of  claim 11  in the absence of an added iron-activating agent. 
     
     
         14 . The treated aqueous system of  claim 11 , wherein the additive further comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, tartaric acid, mucic acid, hydroxymalonic acid, gluconic acid, ketogluconic acid, citric acid, salts of any of these acids, diastereomers of any of these acids, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The treated aqueous system of  claim 11 , wherein the effective amount of the additive ranges from about 0.01% to 50% based on a total amount of fluid in the aqueous system. 
     
     
         16 . The treated aqueous system of  claim 11 , wherein the aqueous system is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous stream, a hydrocarbon stream containing water, a cooling tower, a cooling water system, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The treated aqueous system of  claim 11 , wherein the aqueous system further comprises at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of a scale dissolver, a biocide, a chlorine-containing component, a surfactant, a corrosion inhibitor, a dispersant, a passivator, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The treated aqueous system of  claim 17 , wherein the scale dissolver is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The treated aqueous system of  claim 11 , wherein the aqueous system comprises a stream that is free of hydrogen sulfide. 
     
     
         20 . A method for passivating metallurgy in an aqueous system comprising:
 introducing an additive comprising glucaric acid and/or glucaric acid salt to the aqueous system, the amount of the additive being effective to passivate metallurgy within the aqueous system;   passivating the metallurgy without the addition of a phosphorous compound and an iron-activating agent.